Detachable pipe-coupling.



E. FfBERRY.

DETACHABLE PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1914. nsuswso OCT. 4. ms.

Patnted July 10, 191?.

a 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

moewboz;

after/mu o E. F. BERRY-.

DETACHABLE PIPE COUPLING. APPLICATION men MAY 29. m4. RENEWED OCR-4.1916.

lfi g w 'PatentedJuly10,1917.

2 SHEETS-HEET 2.

EDWARD .F. BERRY, OF NE I; %TAZTE% w ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

DETACI-IABLE PIPE-COUPLING.

Application filed May 29,1914, Serial No. 841,738.

bolts which have to be independently manipulated in the couplingor uncoupling operation.

Another object of theinvention is to provide improved a means enabling the coupling of pipe sections together without the necessity of relatively turning-thesections themselves, as distinguished from the turning of the locking member or members of the coupling.

To the endstated,theinvention comprehends the provision of a coupling of the general type to-which I have alluded, comprising opposing interfitting members adapt-- ed to be carried by adjoining pipe sections, and a wedging device adapted to engage one of said members between-bearing portions carried'thereby, -and the other of said members-to effect a clamping action between said. interfitting members, and a compressing force upon an interposed packing in instances where the latter may be employed.

More especially, the invention embraces a preferred construction possessing the general characteristic just defined consisting of a flange on one pipe section bearing lugs having beveled head portions, and asimilar flange carried by the adjoiningpipe section provided with openings through which said lugs may be passed, in combination with a ring encircling the last mentioned pipe section and carrying wedges adapted to he circumferentially shifted to interpose its wedges between. the beveled heads of the lugs and the adjacent surface of the apertured flange to=draw the lugs through the openings in said last mentioned flange, and. thereby forcibly create the binding action between the opposite surface thereof andthe Speeffication of Letters" Patent.

"Paten'ted ;1hi1y10,1917.

Renewed 0etober4, 1 91 6. 'Sei'ia1lNo.:123,763.

opposing surface of the flange which bears the lugs, or as above stated, thecompressing action on any suit-able packing disposed therebetween. Conveniently, a suitable-simple interlocking engagement is provided between the circumferentially 7 adjustable I wedge ring and :thc apertured flange "to detachably hold the parts in'adjusted positions.

The above stated preferred embodiment of thewinvention includes a number of improved details ofconstructionand arrangement' of iparts, -wh1ch will be readily understood from aninspection ofithe accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and whereinsuch embodiment is illustrated, when considered in connection with the specific description thereof hereinafter contai-ned.

dinally of-the spring latch, approximately on the-dotted line indicated-in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail VlGWOf a modified form r of latch, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are views of a still further modified construction-of latch and operating handle or lever.

Referring more specifically'to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, Ai'epresents the endof a pipe sectionof any character desired to be oined,

here shown, for example, asa metallic conduit, and B similarly-represents the end portion of an abutting pipe section.

Secured to the end of the pipe section A in any suitable manner, as by riveting or a threaded engagement therewith, I securea rigid flange C, the same being provided with elongated,conveniently oblong openings I),

for a purpose-to be hereinafterpoint-edout,

the openings being tapered outwardly or'toward the pipe section A, as clearly indicated 111 the drawings, particularly .F gs. 2 and? Spaced azsuitable distance from this flange r: my

G, and for a purpose as will also presently appear, I vpreferably, though not always necessarily, employ a ring E, fixedly secured to said section, adapted to surround the pipe section A. On the opposite pipe section B, I provide and similarly secure. thereto a flange F, quite similar to the flange C, to which I have previously alluded, this flange, however, being provided with a series of lugs G disposed at suitable distances apart around the flange and projecting outwardly therefrom, as shown, these lugs being of substantial width to give adequate body and strength to the structure, and terminating in'headed portions 9 having under beveled or inclined edges 9.

WVhen the pipe-sections A and B are assembled, the lugs G are introduced into and passed through the openings D of the flange G, the tapered formation of the openings facilitating the operation, and the headed ends 9 are adapted to'be engaged beyond the flange G to clamp the parts together. Such clamping is accomplished through the medium of a loose clamping plate, also in the nature of'a ring encompassing the pipe section A, and confined for a freedom of movement between the adjacent face of the flange C and the. ring E heretofore mentioned where the latter is used, as will be clear from an inspection of Fig. 1. This clamping plate, designated at H, carries a series of broad wedges h, corresponding in number to'the lugs G, and being of a width substantially greater than the thickness of the lugs, to always insure engagement between the wedgesand lugs, when the clamping plate is swung around eircumferentially of the pipe sections, to throw the wedges into engagement with the beveled edges 9 of the heads 9 of the lugs, as will be apparent, it being observed that the wedges h project approximately tangentially of the plate or ring H.

From the foregoing construction, it will be obvious that after the pipe sectionsare brought together with the lugs G of the flange F and passed through the openings D of the oppositeflange C, and with the beveled headed portions 9 of the lugs beyond the adjacent surface of the flange C, it is then simply necessary to turn the. clamping plate H,'as'by a manipulation of a suitable approximately radially disposed detachable handle, for example J, separably engaging stirrups j on the exposed face of the clamping plate, which will force the wedges h of the clamping plate and the beveled portions of the; lugs into mutual engagement, effecting the drawing of the pipe sections together to clamp the opposing faces of the flanges C andF in abutting relation, or to compress therebetween a suitable (as rubber) packing K, when such a packing is used.

It is desirable that some means be furnished to lock the clamping plate in its various positions, and to accomplish that result, I conveniently provide a spring latch carried by the plate H, and adapted to be antomatically thrust into locking engagement with teeth M or depressions, here constituted by a serrated face oortion of the flange U, best seen in Fig. 4. lhe latch has its flat spring shank Z fastened, at the end thereof, to the exposed face of said plate, and with its depending nose or dog projecting inwardly through .a suitable opening Z provided therefor, in the plate, so that the effective locking point of said nose is normally resiliently thrust beyond the opposite face of the plate and into the successively engaged teeth M, as the plate is retated.

The shank or stem of the latch may be formed or provided with a slightly arched portion or eye Z into which any suitable tool may be engaged to raise the latch and disengage the same from the teeth M, when it is desired to release the coupling.

In Figs. 5 and (5, the spring latch is shown as carried by the handle J and adapted to be automatically thrust into locking engagement with teeth constituted by a serrated peripheral portion on of the flange C, best seen in Fig. 3. The latch has an operating lever N arranged parallel with the handle J, to be grasped therewith, the lever being fulcrumed as at m to the stem of the latch L, and rocking against a bearing of, through which said stem is passed, and depending from the clamping plate ll, as shown 111 Fig. (3. This latch, however, may be a simple dog 0, pivoted at 0, below and parallel with the clamping plate, and provided with a finger engaging projection 0 to lift it out of engagement with the serrations or teeth, as shown in Fig. 7, the binding action of the parts being sullicient to hold the dog in looking position.

lVhile I have herein disclosed several specific embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the invention is capable of einl'iodiment in still other forms and devices, as may be comprehended in the hereto appended claims.

I claim 1. A detachable coupling of the character described comprising members adapted to be coupled, one carrying an apertured flange, and the other carrying lugs adapted to pass through the openings in the flange and having beveled head portions adapted to project beyond the flange in combination with a wedge member interposed between the flange and a confining portion on the. member which carries the same, said wedge member being adapted to be shifted to engage the beveled heads of the lugs, the

wedge member being in the nature of a ring mounted for circumferential movement, and the wedge portions thereof being disposed approximately tangentially of the ring and arranged across one side thereof.

2. A detachable coupling of the character described comprising members adapted to be coupled, one carrying an apertured flange, and the other carrying lugs adapted to pass through the openings in the flange and having beveled head portions adapted to project beyond the flange in combination with a wedge member interposed between the flange and a confining portion on the member which carries the same, said wedge member being adapted to be shifted to engage the beveled heads of the lugs, the wedge member being in the nature of a ring mounted for circumferential movement, and said wedge portions being relatively broad across their engaging surfaces as compared to the beveled surfaces of the lugs.

3.A detachable coupling of the character described comprising members adapted to be coupled, one carrying an apertured flange, and the other carrying lugs adapted to pass through the openings in the flange and having beveled head portions adapted to project beyond the flange in combination with a wedge member interposed between the flange and a confining portion on the member which carries the same, said wedge member being adapted to be shifted to en gage the beveled heads of the lugs, the wedge member being in the nature of a ring mounted for circumferential movement, the wedge portions thereof being disposed approximately at right angles to the ring, and said wedge portions being relatively broad across their engaging surfaces as compared to the beveled surfaces of .the lugs and mounted upon one side of the ring whereby the same is rigidly supported.

4. The combination of members to be coupled, one carrying wedge portions and the other an apertured portion through which said wedge portions may project, a rotatable clamping ring carried by said last mentioned member through which said wedge portions may also project, the latter having nose portions facing in a direction thereverse of the direction of rotation of the clamping ring, and said. clamping ring having wedge portions'facing in the direction of said rotation adapted to engage said nose portions.

5. A detachable coupling of the class described, comprising opposed members adapted to be coupled, one of said members carrying an apertured portion and the other lugs adapted to pass through the apertured portion, the said lugs having beveled engaging surfaces and a clamping ring adapted to be interposed between the beveled surfaces of the lugs and the-adjacent surface of the apertured flange portion, the said clamping ring being provided with a pluacross one side thereof outstanding wedge blocks beveled at their outer portions and adapted to engage the beveled surface of the lugs to clamp the parts together, the wedge blocks extending substantially the entiredis- 'tance across the face of the clamping ring whereby the same are rigidly supported.

7. Adetachablecoupling of the class described, comprising members adapted to be coupled, one carrying an apertured flange and the other carrying lugs adapted to pass through the openingsin the flange and project beyond the flange, each of said lugs having transverse slots with beveled walls extending a part way therethrough, incombination with a clamping member "arranged adjacent the apertured flange, said clamping member having relatively wide wedge blocks resting entirely on one side of the clamping ring and provided with beveled outer portions adapted to be shifted to engage the transverse beveled slots in the lugs to clamp the parts together.

8. A detachable coupling of the character described, comprising opposite members adapted to be coupled, one of said members carrying apertured portions and another lugs adapted to pass through the apertured portions, said lugs having beveled engaging surfaces, a clamping member arranged adjacent said apertured portion, and a series of wedge blocks mounted on the face of the said clamping member and of substantially the same width as the said face adapted to engage the beveled engaging surface of the lugs to clamp the parts together.

9. A detachable coupling of the character described, comprising opposite members adapted to be coupled, one of said members carrying an apertured portion and another a headed lug adapted to pass through the apertured portion, and a clamping member adapted to occupy a position between the head of the lug and the adjacent surface of the-apertured portion to bind the parts together in combination with an automatic lock for securing the'clamping members in i adjusted position, said lock comprising a relativelyflat spring thrust dog having its shank secured to the exposed face of the clamping member and extending along said face a portion'of its length and its nose projecting through an opening therein and engaging stops on the face of the opposite coupling member.

10. A detachable, coupling of the class described comprising members adapted to be coupled, one carrying an apertured flange and the other carrying lugs adaptedto pass through the apertures in the flange :and proj ecting beyond the fiange,each of said lugs having beveled engaging surfaces, in combination with a clamping member arranged ad acent the apertured flange, said clamping member having relatively Wide wedge blocks provided with beveled outer portions extending across its exposed side adapted to be shifted to engage the beveled engaging surfaces of the lugs to clamp-the parts together. V V p r v 11. A detachable coupling of the class described comprising members. adapted to be coupled, one carrying an apertured flange and the other carrying lugs adapted to pass through the openings inthe flange and projecting beyondthe flange, eachiof said lugs being, provided with engaging surfaces in combination with a rotary clamping. member arranged adjacent theapertured flange,

- said clamping member having a series of relatively wide wedge blocks provided with beveledouter portions being supported on one side ofthe clamping member and extending thereacross adapted to be shifted to engage the engaging surfaces of the lugs to clamp the parts together.

12. A detachable coupling of the class described, comprising members adapted to be coupled, one of said members carrying an 'on' one side of the clamping ring and eX- tending substantially thereacross whereby the wedge blocksv are rigidly supported.

13. A detachable coupling of the character described, comprising opposed members adapted to be coupled, one of said members carrying apertured portions and the other lugs adapted to pass through the 7 aperturedportions, said lugs having beveled .engagmg surfaces, a clampmgmember arranged adjacent said apertured portion, and a series of wedge blocks mounted on one side of the clamping member and projecting at right angles thereto, the wedge lugs extending substantially the entire distance across the side of the clamping member to present relatively wide engaging surfaces adapted when shifted to interlock with the beveled surfaces of the lugs passing through the apertured flange.

14. A detachable coupling of the class described, comprising members adapted to be coupled,one carrying an apertured flange, and the other carrying lugs adapted to pass through the openings in the flange and project therebeyond, each of said lugs having transverse slots with beveled walls extending a part my therethrough, in combination with a clamping member ar anged adj acent the apertured flange, the said clamping member having relatively wide wedge blocks disposed at right angles thereto and provided with beveled outer portions adapted to be shifted to engage the beveled walls of the lugs passing through the apertured flange.

15. The combination of relatively movable members to be coupled, one carrying wedge portions and the other apertured portions. through which said wedge portions may project and having surfaces adapted to coact with said wedge portions upon relative'movement of the members causing the wedge portions and said coacting surfaces to relatively ride each other, the latter having nose portions facing in the line of coupling movement, and the coacting wedge surfaces facing toward said nose portions, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination of relatively rotatable members to be coupled, one carrying wedge portions and the other apertured portions through which said wedge portions may project and having surfaces adapted to coact with said wedge portions upon relative movement of the members causing the wedge portions and said coacting surfaces to relatively ride each other, the latter having nose portions facing in the line of rotation of the coupling movement, and the coacting surfaces facing toward the nose portions, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination of relatively movable members to be coupled, one carrying wedge portions and the other apertu red portions through which said wedge portions may project and having surfaces adapted to coact with said wedge portions, the latter having nose portions facing in the line of coupling movement, and the coacting wedge surfaces facing toward said nose portions, the apertured portions being closed and reinforced by surrounding marginal parts, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination of relatively rotatable members to be coupled, one carrying Wedge portions and the other apertured port-ions through which said Wedge portions may project and having surfaces adapted to coaet with said Wedge portions, the latter and reinforced by surrounding marginal 10 parts, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. EDWARD F. BERRY.

Witnesses J os. H. MILANs, L. S. BACON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G. 

